New on DVD from SHOUT! Factory and Hasbro is Transformers Animated: The Complete Series. Spanning 6 DVD’s holding 42 episodes of what I feel is the best version of Transformers lore since the original 80’s cartoon.

Transformers Animated has taken a lot of flak for being cartoony and almost childish—the exclusion of guns over melee and other gripes here and there. What people are missing is the beautiful HAND DRAWN artwork and animation, the interesting story that unfolds throughout the entire series and seeing their favorite characters depicted in a more unconventional way.

If I was held at gunpoint for some insane reason and asked who my favorite Transformers character is I’d choose Soundwave.

As Megatron’s right hand bot, the Soundwave of the 80’s was a mini tape deck that implored the use of micro cassette soldiers to do his dirty work. Sending the thugs Rumble and Frenzy along with his falcons Laserbeak and Buzzsaw–followed by Ravage the panther and Ratbat…the rat bat–was what made him cooler than the Megatron P38 pistol and all of the seeker jets combined.

Over the years Soundwave came in many different incarnations including a jet, satellite and currently …

It’s a sad day when you get the last piece from a collection that has been in the making for a few years.

Finally, Rodimus Minor (whom will be referred to as Hot Rod from now on) is in my hands and at the top of my collection of Transformers Animated figures.

Hot Rod is detailed in such a way that even Judd Nelson would be happy to voice him again! As a sports car he looks almost like the original from the 80’s. There is a difference in size but between the paint job, the large canopy window (that opens) …